Love Type Mix Tape - Nerdy Version

September 29, 2006 4:18 PM

Suggestions for indie/alt (ish) rock type love songs?

I know this has been asked before in a couple places, but hey, there are new songs every second AND I'm looking more for songs that are also appropriate for young relationships. So no "I will love you forever" type sentiments necessarily.

Examples would be:

Of Montreal - Let's Do Everything for the First Time Forever
The Smiths - Ask
Belle & Sebastian - If She Wants Me
Eels - P.S You Rock My World

Etc.

posted by heavenstobetsy to Media & Arts (39 answers total)

The Arcade Fire - "Une Annee Sans Lumiere", and "Crown of Love".

A lot of stuff by The Decemberists, but it's also sad, like "We Both Go Down Together" (double suicide) and "From My Own True Love (Lost At Sea)" (self explanatory.)

The Cure, of course. If you don't know your Cure two of the best love songs are "Lovesong" and "Just Like Heaven."

And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead... - "It Was There That I Saw You" and if the young relationship breaks up, "Mistakes and Regrets".

Rilo Kiley - "Portions of Foxes".
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 4:34 PM on September 29, 2006

There's bound to be something that will meet your needs on The Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs. I'm partial to "Crazy For You (But Not That Crazy)".
posted by murphy slaw at 4:42 PM on September 29, 2006

Postal Service "Such Great Heights" has hit my rotation recently. Indie, yes. Rock, not so much....
posted by gnutron at 4:47 PM on September 29, 2006

I may have contributed to music suggestion threads on AskMe one too many times, but what the hell. Here are a couple playlists I made for my girlfriend last Valentine's Day:"Eskimo Kisses"

1. Iron & Wine/Calexico - "16, Maybe Less"
2. Sufjan Stevens - "The Dress Looks Nice on You"
3. M. Ward - "I'll Be Yr Bird"
4. Bright Eyes - "Oh, You Are The Roots That Sleep Beneath My Feet and Hold the Earth in Place"
5. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - "Handle with Care"
6. Jens Lekman - "I Saw Her at the Anti War Demonstration"
7. Belle and Sebastian - "I'm a Cuckoo (Avalanches Mix)"
8. Nick Drake - "One of These Things First"
9. The Notwist - "Consequence"
10. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - "After I Made Love To You"
11. The Decemberists - "We Both Go Down Together"
12. Jeff Buckley - "Lilac Wine"
13. Death Cab For Cutie - "Transatlanticism"
14. The Beach Boys - "Feel Flows"

"Candy Hearts"

1. Silver Jews - "Tennessee"
2. Rilo Kiley - "I Never"
3. Snow Machine - "Paper Bird"
4. The Pixies - "Here Comes Your Man"
5. Wolf Parade - "This Heart's on Fire"
6. Wilco - "I'm Always in Love"
7. The Beatles - "When I'm Sixty-Four"
8. Cookie Monster - "C Is For Cookie"
9. Mates of State - "Goods (All in Your Head)"
10. Daft Punk - "Digital Love"
11. Fountains of Wayne - "Sink to the Bottom"
12. Talking Heads - "Once In A Lifetime"
13. Superchunk - "Drool Collection"
14. Radiohead - "Black Star"

posted by themadjuggler at 4:50 PM on September 29, 2006 [1 favorite]

Off the top of my head:

Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything
Built to Spill - Twin Falls
The Mountain Goats - Love Love Love
Bloc Party - Hero
Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You into the Dark
The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Feist - One Evening
The American Analog Set - The Postman

Good luck!
posted by patr1ck at 5:00 PM on September 29, 2006

Buy the new album by the Damnwells, Air Stereo. I mean, it's just a good record, but specifically these tracks are good:

I've Got You
Accidental Man
Kung Fu Grip Kiss
posted by autojack at 5:10 PM on September 29, 2006

The Mountain Goats - Old College Try
posted by galimatias at 5:10 PM on September 29, 2006

I am of the opinion that The Divine Comedy's "Tonight We Fly" is one of the most romantic songs of all time. I also second the Magnetic Fields' recommendation -- listen to 69 Love Songs and take your pick.
posted by scody at 5:22 PM on September 29, 2006

Thirding The Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs. I know: thirding seems a bit over the top. But really, it's an essential accoutrement for young indie lovebirds.
posted by hot soup girl at 5:37 PM on September 29, 2006

I'm Looking for a Girl - Jens Lekman
Sunlight in a Jar - The Lucksmiths
Here Today - Fugu
Important in Your Life - Jonathan Richman
posted by hot soup girl at 5:52 PM on September 29, 2006

Damn.... not much good at young relationship suggestions, but if your new relationship breaks up and you then decide to get back together I suggest Sebadoh's 'Willing to Wait'.
posted by DOUBLE A SIDE at 6:43 PM on September 29, 2006

Sci-fi Lullaby - Come On . No one's ever heard it (I got back when MP3.com first started), but if you can find it I always thought it screamed teen romantic dramedy, which is a phrase I hope I never use again.
posted by JeremiahBritt at 6:54 PM on September 29, 2006

Sebadoh- Soul and Fire
Yo La Tengo- Center of Gravity
Built to Spill- Joyride
Bikini Kill- Outta Me
Pavement- Major Leagues
Jurassic Five- Thin Line
posted by Wayman Tisdale at 8:39 PM on September 29, 2006

Bright Eyes - First Day of My Life
posted by knave at 9:12 PM on September 29, 2006

Chris Knox, "Not Given Lightly."
posted by escabeche at 11:04 PM on September 29, 2006

Themadjuggler-- I think I might just love you
posted by greta simone at 11:28 PM on September 29, 2006

Beulah - "If We Can Land A Man On The Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart"
posted by adamkempa at 11:44 PM on September 29, 2006

I'm surprised that none of the Decemberists songs recommended include "Red Right Ankle." Other suggestions:

Aqualung, "Brighter than Sunshine"
Iron & Wine, "Love and some verses"
Mary Lou Lord, "Ontario, Quebec and Me"
Mates of State, "Drop and Anchor"
M. Ward, "Fool Says" or his cover of David Bowie's "Let's Dance"
posted by jeffmshaw at 11:45 PM on September 29, 2006

Also - the perfect song for this use:

"It started with a Mix" by Los Campesinos. You can download it on their myspace page.
posted by adamkempa at 11:49 PM on September 29, 2006

Neil Finn - She Wil Have Her Way
posted by softlord at 1:39 AM on September 30, 2006

Hefner - The Weight of the Stars, The Boy Least Likely To - I'm Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon To Your Star. Although both are kind of bitter-sweet.
posted by featherboa at 3:39 AM on September 30, 2006

Toadies - Tyler
posted by prodevel at 4:55 AM on September 30, 2006

TheOnlyCoolTim, I was under the impression that Arcade Fire's "Crown of Love" was about falling out of love. There may be room for different interpretations, though, and it is a beautiful song regardless.

There a fabulous Canadian artist out there named Hawksley Workman who crafts some great love songs. Off the top of my head, I would recommend "You Are Too Beautiful" and "You and the Candles" from his newer album Treeful of Starling; of his older songs, "Striptease" is just fun, and I also love "No Sissies."
posted by sarahsynonymous at 5:22 AM on September 30, 2006

Another vote for Postal Service - "Be Still My Heart"

My favorite indie rock song
posted by elquien at 5:50 AM on September 30, 2006

typing on pda, but click on my profile and look at my similar jan 2006 question.
posted by k8t at 5:58 AM on September 30, 2006

TheOnlyCoolTim, I was under the impression that Arcade Fire's "Crown of Love" was about falling out of love.

It's the same difference to me.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 6:22 AM on September 30, 2006

hawksley workman - safe and sound
ash - i'm gonna fall
jack johnson - better together
papas fritas - girl
smashing pumpkins - dancing in the moonlight (i have a live version, not sure if this was actually on one of the albums)
wilco - my darling
muse - falling away with you (may be too much for a young relationship though)
the postal service - such great heights
the shins - turn a square


sondre lerche has a lot of good stuff, although i can't pick a song off the top of my head.
posted by catburger at 8:23 AM on September 30, 2006

sondre lerche has a lot of good stuff, although i can't pick a song off the top of my head.

Two Way Monologues is a good one. Of course, it's kind of hard to pick them for the subject matter, since none of his lyrics really make any sense.

And come on now, We Both Go Down Together? How about Clementine, or Red Right Ankle, or even Engine Driver? None of those involve rape and suicide.

More:

Aberfeldy - Love is an Arrow
Of Montreal - Everything Disappears When You Come Around
The Mountain Goats - International Small Arms Traffic Blues
weezer - Holiday
Andrew Bird - Masterfade
Stars - Ageless Beauty
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
John Vanderslice - New Zealand Pines
Jens Lekman - You Are the Light

+ Ben Gibbard stuff, The Shins (will change your life), Sufjan, etc.
posted by ludwig_van at 11:41 AM on September 30, 2006

the zombies - this will be our year
not indie, but respected and loved by hipsters all over.
posted by dearest at 11:42 AM on September 30, 2006

Weakerthans - My Favorite Chords
Cub - New York City
That Dog - Long Island
Boycrazy - Bad Things
posted by chrominance at 11:43 AM on September 30, 2006

the zombies - this will be our year
not indie, but respected and loved by hipsters all over.

Greeeat song. Pretty much anything from Odyssey and Oracle by The Zombies will do, really.
posted by ludwig_van at 11:44 AM on September 30, 2006

Smog - Dress Sexy at my Funeral
I'll stop there cause those dishes ain't gonna wash themselves.
posted by DenOfSizer at 11:54 AM on September 30, 2006

OK, i have come up with one for sondre lerche: modern nature. it's really poppy and cute.
posted by catburger at 4:43 PM on September 30, 2006

International Small Arms Traffic Blues? "Our love is like the border between Greece and Albania"? I really don't think that's a very romantic song and it's certainly not a good "new love" song. I really don't think any Mountain Goats songs are appropriate on a love-type mix tape, and they are one of my favourite bands.

Hawksley Workman's "Safe and Sound" is a favourite of mine.

White Stripes - Apple Blossom
Sleater-Kinney - Oh! (top 5 ever)
Neko Case - No Need to Cry

If the other party is at all into indie rock, I'd stay away from the Postal Service or the Shins (too Braffian).
posted by SoftRain at 6:36 PM on September 30, 2006

You don't think any Mountain Goats songs are appropriate on a love-type mix tape? Nonsense!

While a lot of their best love songs are a little bit too intense for this particular situation ("I Corinthians 13: 8-10", "Going to Queens", "Going to Port Washington"), "Jenny" or "Commandante" are very light-hearted and would work very nicely here.

Personally, I would avoid songs from Tallahassee on account of the story the album's a part of.
posted by bubukaba at 7:40 PM on September 30, 2006

International Small Arms Traffic Blues? "Our love is like the border between Greece and Albania"? I really don't think that's a very romantic song and it's certainly not a good "new love" song.

I think you're wrong.
posted by ludwig_van at 7:56 PM on September 30, 2006

As long as we're talking about which Mountain Goats songs are and are not appropriate to 'young love,' I've got to agree that most of the suggestions are a bit morbid. 'Commandante' and 'Going to Port Washington' would be great, though. 'Stars fell on Alabama' or 'Going to Georgia,' would also be good songs if and only if you want to be funny. (I disagree that Port Washington is too intense, incidentally. I think that intensity comes from context. It could just as easily be about him asking her out as asking her to marry him, unless you know the story behind it.)

Other picks from me:

- Sondre Lerche: "Modern Nature," definitely.
- Much of the Stephin-Merritt-o-sphere (the 6ths, the Future Bible Heroes, the Magnetic Fields) is appropriate. For instance the 6ths' "Just Like a Movie Star."
- Destroyer: "No Cease Fires."
- Devin Davis's "Giant Spiders" is hands-down my favorite song of 2005 and it's perfect for your purposes. (He's got the album version on his myspace page, iirc.)
- Joanna Newsom: "Peach, Plum, Pear" or "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie" could be good.
- I second the M. Ward suggestions above, they're all good choices. "Poison Cup" or "To Go Home" from his new album might also be good.
posted by jacobm at 8:36 PM on September 30, 2006

The Liars' "The Other Side Of Mt. Heart Attack" is the most heartbreaking and plain-spoken love song I've heard in years.

But do yourself a favor and pretend like it's the only song they ever recorded, because the rest of the Liars' discography sounds like someone banging a skillet on the side of the road.
posted by Ian A.T. at 2:10 AM on October 1, 2006 [1 favorite]

So Close - Six By Seven probably fits your bill.
posted by randomination at 5:03 AM on October 2, 2006